title: Histopathologic evaluation of follicular tissues associated with impacted lower third molars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have reported that the dental follicular tissues associated with impacted lower third molars (ILTMs) may undergo cystic degeneration and/or neoplastic transformation. This is especially likely when the pericoronal space is >2.5 mm on intraoral radiographs and >3 mm on panoramic radiographs and to examine dental follicular tissue for pathological changes in patients with ILTMs and pericoronal radiolucencies of <2.5 mm.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Histopathological evaluation of follicular tissues associated with ILTMs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The morphology of the hematoxylin and eosin-stained follicular tissues of 146 such impactions were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On microscopy, no cystic structures with fibrous walls were identified. 85 cases (58%) showed fibrous or myxomatous connective tissue and no epithelial elements. 61 cases (42%) showed epithelial elements in addition to fibrocollagenous tissue. Of these, 16 cases exhibited epithelium, of which 13 cases showed reduced enamel epithelium and three cases showed squamous metaplasia/non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All asymptomatic unerupted third molars with pericoronal radiolucency of <2.5 mm should be retained since they do not exhibit cyst formation microscopically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Virajpet, India.
authors.forename: Anand S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tegginamani
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prasad
keywords: Dental follicle; impacted lower third molar; pathology